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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1899)
THE COURIER. Kl -c - ,t THE STRANGE FATE OF LUCY-CAT. Annik L. Miller. All night tbo enow bad fallen in thick Hakes, and now lay softly massed over the landscape The gloomy and dire fully BUggostivo garb of tho old fir trooB near the gate, had boon changed to dazzling bridal attiro. Tho patient tread of tho busy wayfarors slowly formed a path to tho village; each pass erby left tho track a littlo moro distinct and marked his labors with tho impress of another foot. Soon theso prints would cloBoly overlap and tho path bo complete. Lucy-cat sat on tbo windowsill gazing up tho road for her mistress. The morn ing had been long for her. Each favorite cushion had been tried, but oven tho old faehioned charm of turning about three times and plucking the warp into slender irregular loops, had not brought lasting reBt . For hours she had stretch ed her golden tortoise-shell length be fore tho tire, and closed her eyes until but a line of topaz light was faintly visible. Lucy-cat was a beauty and she know it. It whb her habit to paBB through the rooms with deliberate, arrogant step and apparent indifference. Nothing escaped her sleepy eyes. A keen ob server could detect her emotions through the curve of her sweeping tale. That beautiful long appendage was capable of more expression than tbo countenance of many a human being. Sometimes, stiflly bristling, it resembled a large furniture brush; then again tbo yellow fur lay softly, insidiously in place, but the angle at which the tail curled meant much to those wise in cat lore. Her tawny coat had table, tiger-like markings, and deep brown mountings brought out the golden flicker of her yellow eyes. Now a gleam of interest mingled with the mystic Hashes of those great orbs. Far up tho road a young girl could bo seen, in a red cloak and" hood, carefully picking her way thiough the drifts. "You dear old Lucy cat," sho cried, on coming in, and gave her pet a hug.. We shall have sleighing, Lucy! sleigh ing! and now it will last all winter. Come and run in the snow!'' Out through tho open door went rahi tresB and cat. Mary gathered a hand full of soft snow, threw it .playfully and stooped for more. Already a yellow form was. moving away over the white carpet, carefully planting each velvet paw in, the indentations and footprints. Lucy-cat vanished behind a snow drift and was seen no more. Weeks passed of weary waiting to Mary, but the- goldon beauty did not return. The snow fell again and again, -and was packed in firm, frosty smooth ness on the highways. The sleighs spBd merrily over the surface, and boys and girls with sleds and skates joined in tho winter's happiness. In the seat next to Mary at tho village school, sat a boy of her own age, named Charlie Marsh. He had long been a silent and unobtrusive adorer, and now wished to show a visible proof of his affection, Occasionally the laughing, merry girl allowed him to carry her books a part of the way home, but never far for fear of the ridicule of her own .family. Charlio had planned when tho snow came, to take her for a sleigh ride. It was a fashion among tho boys to have unique robes of furs for such occasions, and he wished his to be the rarest and finest. All the boys had been collect ing the skinB of animals in the hills and tanning and arranging them in patterns for sleigh robes. The skill and process were usually rewarded by the prettiest girl being tucked beneath tho prettiest robe. Charlie said nothing but eagerly ought bis trophies. The labor wbb finished and theday for tho sleigh ride arrived. Mary joyfully tied hor hood and ran gailly down tho walk. With ono foot on tho runner sho first bw tho robo. "You havo killed my Lucy-cat," she screamed. Tho boy did not understand. "You killed her, you did," sobbed Mary, pointing to tho center of tho robo, "and I hate you!'' There on a background of dark polts lay a magnificent tortoieo shell skin, with Biiblo murkings, Tho four paws radiated into tho other furs, and tho head had amber glaES oyes with a sinis ter glare. A beautiful und striking robo, but there was no sleigh rido that day. Years lutor Mury learned to forgive and to speak to her old friend, but ho tweon thorn still lay tho indehblo mem ory of a lovely form with soft golden fur, and tho reproachful gjeam of topaz oyes. Lucy-cat was avocged. MUSICAL MENTION, John Randolph. On Monday evening January 23rd, tho third Philharmonic of tbo present winter, was given at tbo Oliver theatre. It is a pleasure to be able to record so highly creditable a performanco as was this concert. Lighter in some respects than usual, tho program was not so popular as to be cheap, while it was enough bo to command tho undivided attention of a good audionco. I was not able to be present until after the conclusion of the first two numbers; but in tho part of the program to which I listened there was more certainty of attack, better intonation and noticeably, a more ready response from the players to the efforts of the conductor. There havo been times when Director Hage now has had tho sympathy of every musician in the audience times when his artistic efforts were defeated by the lack of plasticity of the band. But in this concert director and orchestra seem ed to understand ono another, and the result was a happy and harmonious ono. It would be possible to detect and point out certain minor faults which in an orchestra composed of professional play ers would be lees admissible but when tho results were so pleasurable and with al so beneficial to the musical life of our city, it would bo an ungrateful taBk. Mr. Hagnnow is to bo congratulated upon his success a success 'not Iobb dear no doubt, because hardly earned at the price of arduous reh tarsal. Nor wps tho director less felicitous in his selec tion of soloists. Mr. Will B. Richard son, the first trombone player of the orchestra, was heard to much advantage in the well known "Evening Star" selec tion from "Tannbaeuser," and as an encore in a ballad of Arthur Sullivan. Moreover, Mrs. E. Lewis Baker, another Lincoln artist, was heard in the great "Ah Petfldo" aria from Beethoven. I ueo the term "artist" advisedly, for, bar ring certain peculiarties in tone produc tion from tho physiological point of view, and in regard to which thero is room for difference of opinion, Mrs. Baker is a most finished and artistic singer. Thir performer does not sing like'an amateur but like a professional artiBt. Hor temperament, dignity, re pofao and othor excellent qualities, com bined with admirablo control of tho technical resources of a largo Rnd reson nnt voice of agreeable quility, make her easily one of tho foremost singers in the state of Nebraska. Mrs. Baker was heard later in a group of songs, accom pained at the pianoforte by Miss May Belle Hagonow, and was compelled to yield to the demand of the audience for encores. The program of tho concert is apponded as a matter of record. March "Love is King," Innes. Overture "Raymond," Thomas. Scona and aria "Ah PerHdo," Bee thoven; Mrs. E. LewisBaker. JESIfll J'W JAFv ' assiiMHsTr93BuYeliW Bmv'KmESlBBmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmflJBSSSSSW BY 17 TfjBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBflaBBflfll flBk V-1 A bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbibbbbbbbbbbbIv?! L"f 7 ' i sllllllllllH7!9aT'!lealW': V4lin "xasMeeeeHeeeeeVTLiiW tsary s: ... yi M '.I' i ' 'jfi i & i i - . flit. ' .'W-r., Our family washing" is now correct. Our prices are cheaper tiatfyou can do it at home. We invite the ladies to call and inspect our plant for family washing. Clarkson TeLtxxLry Invitation a la VaUo 0. M. V.Weber. Song to the "Evening Star,' from "TannhauBor" Wngnor; Mr. Will B. Richardson. Two Slavonic dances No. 1C major; No. 2 E minor; Dvorak. Songs (a) "Dor Doppolgauger," Schu bert; (b) "Serenade du Passant," Masse net, (c) "Dearest Heart, Farewell," Strel zki; Mrs. E. Lewis Baker. American Patrol Meacham. Serenade "Rococo,'' Meyer-Hel- mund. March et Cortege "La Reine de Saba," Gounod. NOCTURNE. TIME IS MONEY. When you are traveling, due con sideration snould be given to the amount of time spent in making your journey. Tho Union Pacific is the beet line and makes the fastest time by many hours to Salt Lake City, Portland and Cali fornia points. For time tables, folders, illustrated books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter ritory traversed, call at City Office, 1014' O st. E. B. Slomon, Gen. Agent. White, white I remember her, Whi'e from her forehead to her feet! The moonlight falling through the pane Was not so white- was not so sweet. She was a pool of moonlight there Between the window and the wall, And the slow minutes bathed in her And went away beyond recall. Richard Hovey. JEWELKV SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OK MONEY UEKUNDED. Jewelry of our manufacture war ranted to give the wearer satisfaction or monoy refunded. We manufacture a complete line in rolled gold plate, gold filled, gold front and soiid gold. A complete lino of jewelry of our manufacture is for sale by Braddon A flaBsmuo, of Waverly Neb. Call at the store and examlno the line. Prices low and goods first class. W. F. Main Co., Manufacturing Jewelers, Iowa City, la. Pera's Desert. In the long coastal desert of Psn, which is 2,000 miles in length, but only 120 miles broad at Its widest part, the rivers disappear in the dry season and begin to flow again In February jr March (wfeen rain falls In the Cor dilleras. One of the most Important of these rivers Is the Plura, the return sf whose waters is welcomed with great rejoicings by the inhabltanta of Its aaals" To Pacific Coast Travelers. I Under present arrangements we can show you extremely satisfactory service to the Pacific Coast and intermediate points. To Spirit Lake, San Francisco and Portland we beat the world. Call for information. Personally conducted excursions every Friday. A. 8. Fielding, O, T. A., 117 South 10th street. Hot Springs S. D. and return only 915.00 via the Burlington. On January 24th this excursion will leave Lincoln Tickets good for 30 days. For further information apply at B. & M. depot or City titket office, cor. 10th and Oats. Geo. W. Bonnell, C. P. & T. A: ulhBh.ock lB-Bnd Playing cards are the slickest you over handled. One pack will bo sent by mail on receipt-of 15 cents in stamps. A money order' or draft for 50 cents or same in stamps will secure 4 packs. They wiil be sent by express, charges prepaid. Address, John Sebastian, G. P. A., Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R'y, Chicago. ' t Health Aurora. Jimton I wouldn't haag a mas em My expert" testissony of doctors. , Would you? Jamson Not if I wen ia good' aealth. Humph I What's that to do with it? :; I haven't much iaitk ia dost " frfceal'mwelL ' V9